FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 25, 2001

DEAR JERRY: I grew up listening to some great music. From the time I was a very young child I loved vinyl records, especially the rock and roll from the '50s and early '60s.

Now I am trying to find the title and artist to a record that my aunt had in her collection as a teen. The trouble is that she does not remember it either.

I do know this mystery single came out in the late '50s on the Apt label, the same company that had the Elegants' “Little Star.”

I recall this song starting off with a whistle, or perhaps it is an instrument that just sounds a lot like a whistle. Obviously I am not giving you much to go on, but I would sure be very grateful for any help you can give.

On another matter, thanks for your recommendation to try Bags Unlimited for record supplies. I purchased a lot of great stuff from them for my 45 collection.
—Joe Summo

DEAR JOE: Not much to go on — no kidding! Quite a few songs from that period begin with a whistle of some sort, “Short Shorts” (Royal Teens) being one that immediately comes to mind.

However, by remembering this disc came out on the Apt label, your “not much” is just enough.

I believe the record your aunt owned is “Crazy Eyes for You,” a summer 1958, Top 40 hit for Bobby Hamilton. This tune begins with a wolf whistle, followed by the line “I've got crazy eyes for you, baby.”

It's interesting you mention “Little Star” (Apt 25005) since it and “Crazy Eyes for You” (Apt 25002) were both on the charts at the exact same time. Though the number of Hamilton's disc is 25002, it is actually the label's debut release.

Neither the Elegants nor Bobby Hamilton managed to follow their hits with anything else that charted, particularly amazing considering that “Little Star” even reached No. 1.

I know that one time when hearing and dancing to his music at the Pennsylvania Hotel he flirted outrageously with my date, but I don't know if this type behavior had anything to do with his sudden departure.
—Gordon Wall

DEAR GORDON: Ray Eberly, who joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1938, simply managed to alienate himself from Miller as well as most of the band personnel.

There is no evidence that outrageous flirting played a part in Ray being let go. In fact, how many entertainers DON'T flirt.

Most reports point to Ray's overall lack of discipline as leading to Miller firing him, which came about in 1942.

When Tex Beneke took the re-formed Glenn Miller Orchestra on a national tour, in 1970, he brought Ray back to once again sing with the old gang. A heart attack claimed the life of Eberly in 1979.

IZ ZAT SO? When spoken, the Eberly Brothers sounds very much like the Everly Brothers. Well, like Don and Phil Everly, Ray also had a singing brother — Bob, a vocalist with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.